Convertible top

ABSTRACT

A convertible top having a glass window attached to the top by positioning a ring around a window opening in the soft top and wrapping an edge of the window opening around at least a portion of the ring. An adhesive is positioned between the edge portion of the ring and the soft top and the glass window is positioned over the ring and secured thereto by an adhesive.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This Application is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/844,226 filed Aug. 23, 2007, claims priority to U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/939,824, filed May 23, 2007, the entirecontents of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a method of installing a glasswindow in a soft auto top, and more particularly, to the incorporationof a metal ring between the soft top material and the glass window forproper bonding.

The attachment of a glass window in a soft auto top has been an age-oldproblem.

Several previous methods of installing a glass window to a soft topinclude bonding the glass directly to the soft top using various glues,silicones or other similar bonding agents. Another previous methodincludes taping the window directly to the soft top using double sidedtape, such as 3M VHB tape. Still, other methods include bonding thewindow to the soft top using a thermally activated adhesive or tape,molding or encapsulating the window into the soft top, or clamping thewindow into the soft top using various fasteners.

Typically, soft auto tops are constructed using vinyl or canvas. Both ofthese materials are very difficult, if not impossible, to bond to aglass surface. Therefore, soft tops have traditionally had windowsconstructed of plastic so that they could be sewn into the auto top.However, the plastic windows tended to scratch and discolor easily,leading to severe impairment of vision. Because of this problem,consumers demanded auto tops having glass windows installed. This demandlead to auto top manufacturers to utilize the previously identifiedmethods to install a glass window into a soft top, however, these priormethods have had numerous disadvantages and problems, including, a highrate of failure of the bond holding the window to the top, resulting inthe window falling out of the top and/or leaking water into the vehicle.Another problem associated with prior methods is that they requiredexpensive tooling and equipment to achieve the required bond between theglass and the soft top material. Prior methods required a high degree ofskilled labor and these processes were very labor intensive. Yet,another problem is that it is difficult to replace a glass window in thesame soft top in the event a window is broken or to have more than onewindow installed in the top.

Aesthetically, the outside joint between the soft top and the window iscosmetically unappealing. In addition, the use of clamps and fastenersare expensive when needed in low volumes, such as the after market orreplacement top segment, which makes the top more expensive and lessaffordable for consumers. Consequently, a need exists for a new methodfor installing a glass window in a folding or removable soft auto topwhich addresses the problems associated with prior methods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new method for installing a glass window in afolding or removable soft auto top, which addresses the problemsassociated with prior methods by not requiring the soft top material tobe bonded directly to the glass window. The method includes theintroduction of a ring, as an intermediary between the soft top materialand the glass window, which provides a low cost, reliable solution tothe problems encountered by prior methods of glass window installationin soft auto tops.

The method of the present invention begins with the selection of a softtop for installation of the glass window. Next, a glass window to beinstalled in the auto top is selected. A hole, slightly smaller than thewindow, is cut into the auto top in the location where the window is tobe installed. Next, a retainer ring that has been sized to the window isselected and then placed on the auto top over the hole so that theperimeter of the hole extends evenly past the inside diameter of thering. Next, an adhesive is applied to the ring and the portion of thetop extending past the ring. Alternatively, or in addition to, anadhesive may be applied to that portion of the auto top that the ringwill rest on, prior to placing the ring on the auto top. Next, theportion of the auto top extending past the ring is rolled or pressedaround the exposed surface of the ring, thereby encasing all, or aportion of, the ring with the auto top. A bonding agent, such as anautomotive urethane sealant, is then applied to the auto top in the areaof the auto top that the window will be attached to. Finally, the windowis placed onto the soft top such that the bonding agent is compressedbetween the soft top and the window. Once the bonding agent has cured,the installation is complete.

The advantages of the present invention over prior methods of windowinstallation include faster installation time, reduced worker skilllevel, improved cosmetics, a stronger bond between the soft top materialand the window, elimination of the need for expensive and complicatedprocessing machinery, significant reduction in tooling or fixture costs,and the ability for multiple glass windows to be installed in the sameauto soft top.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an auto soft top having a hole for a glasswindow;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1 including a ring placed around thewindow opening;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the ring and soft top; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the installed glass window to thesoft top.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, a method for installing a glass window in afolding or removable soft top is illustrated. Initially, an auto softtop 10 is selected. The size and configuration of the soft top isselected to fit the make and model of the automobile for which it isintended. Typically, the soft top is made of vinyl or canvas. A hole 12is cut into the soft top in a rear portion 14 corresponding to thelocation of a rear window. The size of the hole 12 is slightly smallerthan the outer dimension of the window to be installed. Similarly, aglass window 16 is selected, having a size and configuration which isspecific for the type of vehicle for which the soft top is intended. Ametal retainer ring 18 which is sized to have an outer dimensionsubstantially matching the outer dimension of the window, is selectedand placed onto the auto top 10 over the hole 12 so that a portion 20 ofthe soft top extends beyond an inside perimeter 22 of the retaining ring18. Portion 20 should uniformly extend inside the inside perimeter 22 ofthe ring 18 around the entire hole 12.

An adhesive 24, is applied to portion 20 of the soft top, which is thenwrapped around the ring and secured to an inside surface 26 of the ring18. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, adhesive 24 can be appliedbetween an inside surface 28 of soft top portion 20 and an outsidesurface 30 of ring 18. This adhesive would be positioned between thering and the soft top prior to installing the ring on the soft top. Asindicated portion 20 extending past the ring is then rolled or pressedaround the ring, thereby encasing at least a portion of the ring withthe soft top, as seen best in FIG. 3. Referring specifically to FIG. 4,the window 16 is then mounted by placing a bonding agent 30 such as anautomotive urethane sealant, to the inside surface 26 of the ring andthe window is then placed upon the bonding agent 30.

The present invention provides a method of attaching a glass window toan automotive soft top by bonding each of the glass window and the softtop to a metal retaining ring. Prior problems of adhering a glass windowto a soft top are eliminated by each of the glass window and the softtop being separately attached to the metal ring. The present inventioneliminates the problem of adhering glass to canvas or vinyl by allowingthe glass to be adhered to a metal ring and the canvas or vinyl to beadhered to a metal ring. Consequently, a stronger and weather proof sealis created between the window and the soft top.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated withrespect to a preferred embodiment thereof, changes and modifications canbe made therein which are within the full intended scope of theinvention as herein after claimed.

1. A convertible top comprising: an outer soft top having a windowopening; a preformed ring positioned around the window opening such thatan edge portion of the soft top at the window opening wraps around atleast a portion of the ring and is secured thereto; and a glass windowhaving an exterior surface secured to the ring and the edge portion ofthe soft top wrapped around the ring at the window opening.
 2. Theconvertible top of claim 1 wherein the edge portion of the soft top atthe window opening is secured to the ring by an adhesive between theedge portion of the soft top at the window opening and the ring.
 3. Theconvertible top of claim 2 wherein the adhesive is positioned on aninside surface of the ring.
 4. The convertible top of claim 2 whereinthe adhesive is positioned on an outside surface of the ring.
 5. Theconvertible top of claim 1 wherein the glass window is secured by asealant.
 6. The convertible top of claim 5 wherein the sealant is anadhesive.